Off the Pitch

12 Venezuelans Test Positive For Covid-19 Day Before Copa América Opener vs. Brazil

SAO PAULO — Twelve members of the Venezuelan delegation at the Copa América have tested positive for COVID-19, health officials said on Saturday, a day before they meet hosts Brazil in the tournament opener.

"The 12 members of the delegation include players and members of the backroom staff," said a statement from the Health Secretariat in Brasilia, where Sunday's game will take place.

The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) made the diagnosis on Friday night and informed local health authorities.

Here’s What Europeans Are Saying About Kneeling Before Matches At The Euros

Soccer's European Championship kicks off on Friday with the 24 teams' battle for glory accompanied by off-field conflict over the anti-racism gesture of "taking the knee".

England were booed by some of their fans in two friendlies while Ireland were jeered in Hungary for kneeling before kickoff in a move borrowed from American NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick and popularised by the Black Lives Matter movement.

Consumerism Won’t Necessarily Make You A Better Person, But These Beer Mats Will

Between the European Championship, Copa América, Gold Cup, Olympics and World Cup qualifying, we’re going to be spending a lot of time in the living room this summer. So much so that we run the risk of being judged. 

But that which is exceedingly cool is beyond judgement — I think Socrates once said that — and if you turn your television area into the spot, then no one can make fun of you. They’ll just sit down too.

EPL's Big Six Agree To Pay The League For Their Attempted Super League Shenanigans

The six English clubs that said they would join the European Super League will pay a combined 22 million pounds ($31 million) as "a gesture of goodwill" and face a 30-point deduction if they attempt a similar move in future, the Premier League said on Wednesday.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur will also each be fined 25 million pounds if they attempt another breakaway, the league added.

Spain's Llorente (The Diego One, Not Marcos) Becomes Second Spanish Player To Test Positive For Covid-19

MADRID — Spain defender Diego Llorente became the latest player after captain Sergio Busquets to test positive for COVID-19, causing further disarray in the three-times European Championship winners' preparations for the tournament.

Following Busquets' positive test at the weekend, Spain's players have been in isolation and only able to train on an individual basis - with their first game just three days later.

What The World Looked Like The Last Time The USMNT Beat Mexico

The U.S. men's national team defeated Mexico in a highly contested match on Sunday to win the CONCACAF Nations League, marking the country’s first competitive victory over its rivals since September 10th, 2013.

The fruitless streak continued so long that I personally graduated middle school, high school and was just one year away from graduating college before the U.S. was victorious again. Christian Pulisic, the American captain who scored the go-ahead goal, was just 14 years old when the U.S. last claimed victory. 

That USMNT-Mexico Game Was So Crazy That A Fan Parkouring Off The CBS Set Wasn’t Big News

Sunday night’s Concacaf Nations League final between the United States and Mexico was the craziest game I have ever seen. Period.

The game had everything on and off the field, including a fan parkouring off the Paramount+ set to evade security. The fact that a fan taking a plunge into the stands from the broadcast booth isn’t big news goes to show how nutty this Concacaf classic was.

Leagues, Clubs Want Players To Be Allowed To Opt Out Of Copa América

South American players should be given the chance to opt out of playing the Copa América this month, the World Leagues Forum (WLF) said in an open letter to FIFA and the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) on Saturday.

The WLF, an organisation that represents more than 40 professional leagues and their clubs, said the abrupt decision to move the Copa América to Brazil after Argentina pulled out due to a surge in COVID-19 cases "directly affect(s) leagues, their member clubs and their players."

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